
I do good brunch. Forgive my hubris, but I do a bloody great brunch. This is one thing I know for sure. I devote a lot of energy to it. It is my favourite meal of the day and I have it most days. It is one of the perks of working from home (there are a few downsides too, trust me). I have never been one for eating straight out of bed in the morning. I have a coffee and a couple of hours later I turn my attention to the stove. It is often egg based, eggs are one of the most magical things in the world.
When my brunch is egg based, I think about what I want to dip into it that day. Earthy marmite buttered toast soldiers, bright asparagus wrapped in bacon or ham, something dippy, something firm, something that tastes great. I have made soldiers of sesame crusted tuna and salt and pepper tofu, shaped into perfect egg soldier size, perfect for dragging through a glorious runny yolk.
This Sunday my first thoughts went to a simple sourdough soldier, quick and earnest, it would get the job done. I also spied my tub of yeast flakes, something I love since my university vegetarian days (YES, really!), something used as a cheese substitute by vegans, but loved by many for the joy it brings on its own. I had a cauliflower too, and all I could think about was how awesome that would be cut into steaks and fried in butter with an egg on top and a yeasty crumble. I would baste the cauliflower gently with butter as it cooked. And, what about crisp sage leaves, to bring it to the next level?
Cauliflower is having a moment. It is everywhere right now. Carb avoiders love it and turn it into cauliflower rice and cous cous (which are pretty much the same thing, just blitzed cauliflower, and they taste good), and even make pizza bases from it, stringing it together with cheese. This makes sense, cauliflower and cheese covered with pizza toppings, and more cheese? What is not to love? (Although don’t ever give me one instead of real pizza, please). I still love it as a simple cauliflower cheese, I love it spiced and fried to dip into a runny egg (turmeric, cumin and chilli work really well).
Yeast flakes? Cheesy joy and a complete protein packed with vitamins and minerals. It is not a surprise that yeast flakes are favoured by vegans for the cheesy nirvana they deliver, they are a wonderful ingredient which should be embraced by all for their wonderful unique and intense flavour. Yeast flakes an umami bomb, they have such intense flavour they taste like they could not possibly be good for you. Yeast flakes are also loved by exercise fanatics as they are a dense with nutrients. (Someone please save me if I ever start eating powdered protein or something similar. Where is the JOY?!).
A big tub of yeast flakes will go a long way. Combined with butter and chilli they make a terrific spread for toast. Like try and have just one slice of that, I had four. Combined with nuts they make a terrific crumble topping for anything savoury. Pounded to a powder and mixed into a béchamel or beurre blanc you get something deeply addictive. And they are very good for you too, packed with vitamin B.
Note – don’t confuse yeast flakes with bakers yeast and brewers yeast. They are different animals! I use these yeast flakes from Engevita enriched with extra B12.
Ingredients
- A cross section slice of cauliflower, approx 1 inch / 2.5cm thick
- One egg
- 50g butter (and more in case you need it)
- 4 heaped tbsp of yeast flakes (see note above)
- 50g hazelnuts, coarsely chopped, bashed or blitzed in a food processor
- 3 tbsp small pieces of chopped cauliflower
- 6 sage leaves
Instructions
I like the idea. Yes, been seeing a lot of cauliflower on menus of late. I look forward to trying your delicious looking recipe.
Thanks Stuart! Enjoy.
Interesting combination … think I might get some yeast flakes too, v useful … thank u for the inspiration
Pleasure! Enjoy :)
This was a breat idea for my lunch – i spread a little smoke chilli mayo onto the fried cauli steak and then put the poached egg on top – yum! Cheers Niamh – that is a great idea
Thanks Ax
YAY! Super to hear you enjoyed it so. And the chilli mayo was a superb idea.
This looks wonderful! I will have to try it one day, thanks for sharing!
My pleasure! Enjoy :)
Nimah.. what a great new idea for cauliflower. I love cauliflower cheese, but never really do anything else with it. I need to get me some of those yeast flakes too, sounds like you can use them for lots of different recipes. Yum!
Thanks Tim! There is so much you can do with it. Fabulous vegetable and the yeast flakes are divine :)
This looks absolutely amazing, I will definitely be giving this a go! You’ve gained yourself an extra subscriber :)
That looks delicious.
I am hungry/
The part I’m really curious about is that yeasted hazelnut crumble..never tried it before!
I just made it up – as with most things here! – but it was fabulous and is a favourite now :) Enjoy.